The Far North
pfm Member
Looks like Liz has a tough few days ahead, according to the Guardian. Who knew that trade deals might not be easy?
https://www.theguardian.com/politic...dmits-truss-as-she-flies-in-for-biden-meeting
And according to Pippa Crerar on Twitter
https://www.theguardian.com/politic...dmits-truss-as-she-flies-in-for-biden-meeting
In a move likely to disappoint Brexiters, she downplayed expectations that any trade agreement was imminent amid concerns that overpromising but then failing to get talks off the ground would damage her nascent administration.
On the plane to the US, Truss admitted to reporters: “There aren’t currently any negotiations taking place with the US and I don’t have any expectation that those are going to start in the short to medium term.”
It is the first time the government has conceded there is virtually no chance of getting agreement on an early bilateral trade deal with the US, Britain’s biggest trading partner, despite it being coveted by Brexit supporters as one of the major potential benefits of leaving the EU.
And according to Pippa Crerar on Twitter
Truss’s admission designed to (1) decouple prospect of trade deal from row over NI protocol
(2) prevent every bilat she has with Biden looking like failure b/c no breakthrough But it will also…
(3) disappoint Brexiteers who regard FTA as one of biggest wins of leaving EU